The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-12
ISLANDER, NOT PRINCIPLES.

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The campaign of the ''reformers" is
getting more and more a campaign of
SANDER. Without any issues of their
own, having no policy marked out,
proposing no changes or reforms, they
find themselves without anything to
discuss or talk of, unless they indulge
in attacks upon the administration.
This is why they revive old issues
long since settled by the Democracy
and people of Louisiana-such as the
old land case, brought up by Blanchard
at late meeting-and invent new and
absurd SANDERS, such as the contempt
able statement that Gov. McEnery is
controlled in his appointments by
others.
The weakness of,the reformers could
not be better exhibited than in these
ISLANDERS. They have not word to
say for themselves; they cannot give
valid reason why their candidate
should be elected to office; they can
not say what he would do if elected.
They are left the only, recourse Of weak
cause-slander. They are getting nearer
to this more and more every day.
When the campaign opened THE TINES
DEMOCRAT hoped that il would bring
about calm and sensible discussion
of living interests affecting the people
of Louisiana, and that it would be free
from personal abuse. The reformers,
however, refused to meet on such
battlefield, for the simple reason that
they had no arguments, no policy, no
principles, except to secure the control
of our affairs. They have been in
vited time aid again to state what
they proposed to DO; their views on
leading measures of general import
ance have been called for. They have
always declined to give any, answer
ing that they had no views on these
topics, or had not made up their
minds, and going back again to their
campaign of SANDER with assertions,
now that Gov. Enery's appointments
were personal, another time that they
were not personal, but dictated to him
by others-never that they were not
good selections and administered the
affairs of the State to the best interests
OF all.
Have they forgotten that the Repub-
Leans in the last presidential cam
paign pursued this policy of SANDER
and abuse, and that when the Demo-
Gratis invited them to discuss public
measures and to say what they would
do they declined the invitation and
dug up old stories about Cleveland
The people of the United States repu-
dated this plan of campaign in no IN
certain manner. What they wanted to
know was how their affairs would be
administered, what policy would be
pursued, what measures favored. The
Democracy explained; the Republican
party deemed SANDER and abuse an
argument-and lost.
And so it will be in Louisiana. There
are hundreds of topics here that the
people would like to hear discuss d.
Much has been done already, yet much
still remains to be done. Will the re-
formers say what they propose? Will
they continue to dodge these questions
of living moment? Do they believe
shat the people of Louisiana are so de-
void of intelligence that they care no.
thing for the administration of their
affairs, care nothing for public meas
ures, and are satisfied with such old
ISLANDERS as these of Blanchard and
others? Ii SO, they do them q
great injustice, as they will soon learn
when the question is submitted to the
popular vote whether they want can
didate with ideas and principles, who
proposes something, and who, we all
know, will carry it oat, or reform"
without principles, policy or platform.